Macomb County, Michigan

Judge of Circuit Court — 16th Circuit (non-incumbent position)

2 candidates are tracked for Judge of Circuit Court — 16th Circuit (non-incumbent position) on the November 3, 2026 ballot: James L. Spagnuolo and Genevieve L. Taylor. Candidate information follows official Macomb County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

James L. Spagnuolo won the most votes with about 37 percent and Genevieve L. Taylor advanced with about 27 percent in the August 4 nonpartisan primary, eliminating Jeremy F. Fisher and Mariell Lehman, per official results certified by the Michigan Secretary of State; Spagnuolo and Taylor meet on the November 3 ballot.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.

Michigan › Macomb County › Judge of Circuit Court — 16th Circuit (non-incumbent position)

James L. Spagnuolo

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Applying the law faithfully and fairly rather than making it
Moving cases through the court efficiently
Maintaining courtroom discipline and order

Per the campaign site.

Biography

A civil trial attorney for more than 20 years and founder of Macomb Law Group, with a practice centered on personal injury, wrongful death, and insurance cases, per Macomb Daily reporting. A Marine Corps veteran from Clinton Township, he pledges to be a rule-of-law judge guided by the Constitution and binding precedent, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Genevieve L. Taylor

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

A prepared, impartial court committed to straightforward justice
Approaches that reduce recidivism
Community safety and health

Per the campaign site.

Biography

An attorney magistrate at the 40th District Court for more than four years, where she conducts hearings in minor criminal matters, oversees small civil suits, and issues warrants, per her published candidate profile. A former solo practitioner focused on criminal defense, she organizes community expungement legal aid clinics, per her campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotLenox Township Trustee (two partial terms ending 11/20/2028)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Judge of Circuit Court — 16th Circuit (non-incumbent position) in 2026?

When is the Judge of Circuit Court — 16th Circuit (non-incumbent position) election in Michigan?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Michigan are on the Michigan election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Macomb County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Macomb County and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Michigan election office, or see the full Macomb County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Macomb County ballot

24 tracked races in Macomb County, Michigan. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Michigan Senate District 9 Michigan Senate District 10 Michigan Senate District 11 See all 24 Macomb County races

Candidate profiles

James L. Spagnuolo, full profile Genevieve L. Taylor, full profile Official Michigan election office